SEGMENTED FLEXIBLE HUB

MOYEU FLEXIBLE, SEGMENTE

English Abstract

(Case No. 7078)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A bell-shaped, radially segmented flexible hub to which
a brake disc may be secured. The hub is provided with a
radially outwardly directed flange for securing the hub to
the wheel and on which flange the segments are integrally
formed, each segment having a bight portion providing the
flexibility, the hub having either a hole formed in each
segment or a space between the adjoining segments through
which a tool may be inserted for tightening or loosening
bolts which secure the hub to the wheel.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an ex-
clusive property or privilege is claimed are defined
as follows:


1. A flexible bell-shaped hub for mounting a brake
disc on a car wheel carried on an axle, all rotatable with
each other, said hub having a bight portion projecting
axially away from the car wheel, and a radially outwardly
turned peripheral flange removably and concentrically se-
cured to the wheel in facing relation to said bight portion,
said bight portion having its inner periphery secured to an
internal web of the disc and being provided with a plurality
of equiangularly spaced, axially disposed openings through
which access may be had to bolts by which said flange is
secured to the car wheel, and said hub being formed by a
plurality of equiangularly spaced, axially disposed seg-
ments having a bight portion formed thereon between one
end connected integrally to said flange and the other end
connected integrally with said web.

2. A flexible bell-shaped hub, as set forth in claim 1,
wherein said openings are formed between each pair of ad-
jacent segments.

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Description

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High thermal gradients encountered with brake discs
create a problem of disc failure due to fracturing. To avoid
this problem, thermal expansion and contraction must be accom-
modated, such as by providing a flexible hub member on which
the disc is mounted. These hub members may be bell-shaped,
with the flexure occurring at the bight. The hubs are normally
bolted to or cast integrally with the disc, and mounted either
by bolting to the wheel or by a press fit on the wheel axle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVEN~ION
The object of the present invention is to provide a
flexible bell-type hub that is cast integrally with the disc
and bolted to the wheel and is provided with access means for
reaching the bolts where very limited space exists between the
wheel and disc.
Briefly, the invention provides a flexible bell-shaped
hub for mounting a brake disc on a car wheel carried on an
axle, all rotatable with each other, said hub having a bight
portion projecting axially away from the car wheel, and a
radially outwardly turned peripheral flange removably and con-
centrically secured to the wheel in facing relation to said
bight portion, said bight portion having its inner periphery
secured to an internal web of the disc and being provided with
a plurality of equiangularly spaced, axially disposed openings
through which access may be had to bolts by which said flange
is secured to the car wheel, and said hub being formed by a
plurality of equiangularly spaced, axially disposed segments
having a bight portion formed thereon between one end connected
integrally to said flange and the other end connected integrally
with said web.
Because of the out-turned flange very little access

space to the bolts is

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Ql
available, and, therefore, an access space is formed at each

sector of the segmented hub to pro~ide access to the bolts.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a plan view, partly in outline and partly in
section, of a segmented bell-shaped flexible hub embodying
the invention.
Fig. 2 is an elevational view, in section, taken along
line II-II of the hub shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 i8 a plan view, in outline, of a modified embodi-

1~ ment of the hub shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is an elevational view, in section, taken alongline IV-IV of the h~b shown in Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectionalized view, designated
PRIOR ART, of a presently known bell-shaped flexible hub.

DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION
As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a brake disc 1 is secured to
a car wheel 2, for rotation therewith, by a flexible hub 3.
m e outer periphery of hub 3 i8 formed with a plurality of
dovetail sections 4 which are cast integrally with a center
web 5 of disc 1~
Hub 3 is formed by a plurality of a~ially disposed
segments 6 each having a bight 7 and all unitarily joined
by an outwardly turned central bolting flange 8 by which the
hub is secured to the wheel 2. A plurality of bolts 9, only
one of which is shown, secure the hub 3, and consequently
disc 1, to wheel 2. As may be seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings,
there is little access space between the outwardly turned


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bolting flange 8 and the inner peripheral portion of disc 1,
as compared to the space available on a presently known hub
10 having an inwardly turned bolting flange 11, as shown in
Fig. 5 of the drawings.
According to the invention and as shown in Fig. 2, the
bight 7 of each segment 6 of hub 3 projects axially away from
wheel 2 oppositely to the form of the hub 10 shown in Fig. 5.
This form of hub 3, therefore, provides greater hub flexibility
than hub 10, but less space for accessibility to bolt 9. In
further accordance with the invention and in order to provide
access to bolts 9, a radially disposed space 12 is provided
between each adjoining segments 6 to permit a tool, such as
a socket wrench, for example, to be inserted therethrough for
fiecuring or removing ~aid bolts.
The embodiment shown in Figs~ 3 and 4 of the drawings
differs from that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in that a bell-shaped
hub 13 is provided with a plurality of axially disposed holes
14 aligned with each bolt 9 and through which access may be
had to said bolts for installation or removal.
Disc 1 is provided with a plurality of angularly spaced
radial fins 15 between a pair of axially spaced-apart outer
parallel friction rings 16 for dissipating heat therefrom
generated during braking action.
Wheel 2 is secured on a vehicle axle 17 for rotation
therewith.




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